President of U.S. bishops unleashes his wrath on Obama administration

According to the U.S. Episcopate, the survival of a “Constitutionally protected fundamental freedom” that guarantees respect of conscience and religious freedom is at risk

Giacomo Galeazzivatican city

The head of the U.S. Catholic Church has unleashed thunder on the “bible” of the financial community against the White House. “The government should not force Americans to act as if pregnancy were a disease that need to steer clear from at all costs.”

Cardinal Timothy Dolan put pen to paper and in a harsh statement published in the Wall Street Journal, asserted the right of the U.S. Episcopate to protest against pro-contraception health care plan presented by the Obama administration. Obama is engaged in a tough battle to get re-elected in next November’s elections. The day before Dolan’s “thunder” came crashing down via the Wall Street Journal, William McGurn recalled that in 2008, Barack Obama had obtained the majority vote among Catholics. But now many Catholics who once supported Obama are “scandalised” by the Department’s decision.

Among them, are people such as the rector of the University of Notre Dame, Fr. John Jenkins, who has been strongly criticised for inviting the President to make a speech and for awarding him a degree honoris causa. In an article published on the Wall Street Journal, McGurn pointed out the paradox of the fact that “the decision was imposed by a Catholic health and human services minister, Kathleen Sebelius, who works alongside Catholic Vice-President, Joe Biden.” The leader of U.S. bishops pointed the finger at the White House, using a tone that left no room for interpretation. “The Catholic Church defends the religious freedom of everyone, including the freedom of conscience” – the President of U.S. bishops wrote in the American financial paper. The Amish do not take out health insurance and the government respects their principles. It also respects the choices of Quakers and Christian Scientists.

The Obama administration has not shown the same respect, however, for the beliefs of Catholics and others who do not see pregnancy as a disease.” The newly elected cardinal, Dolan, condemns “the erosion of our primary freedom.” The Catholic Church does not want to be forced to pay for contraception. “Religious freedom in the United States is at risk– Fr. John Flynn, a Legionary of Christ, commented to Zenit news agency. The federal government of the United States’ decision to put pressure on Churches to reimburse contraception expenses has attracted a wave of criticism.” Cardinal Dolan spoke categorically: “President Obama is basically telling us we have a year to work out how we are going to violate our consciences.”

He pointed out that the law means that sterilisation and contraceptives that induce abortion will necessarily be included in health care plans. The new national health care law approved by Washington’s Congress, leaves it up to the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) to decide which institutions will be exempted from having to pay for the contraceptive care expenses of their employees, covered by their respective health insurance plans.

It was Benedict XVI who set the way for the U.S. Church’s bioethical “crusade”: “It is crucial that the entire Catholic community of the United States be aware of the serious threats posed to the Church’s public moral testimony by a radical secularisation that is expressing itself more and more through politics and culture.” The Pope finds “certain attempts to limit America’s most respected freedom, the freedom of religion, particularly worrying.” Despite Pope Benedict XVI’s appeal, on 20 January, the Pope announced that although Churches will be exempt, other associations linked to the Church, such as hospitals and charities, will not be, and will therefore have to reimburse their employees.

The only concession made by the Ministry is that employers have been given until August 2013 to adjust to the law. This pushes their obligation to get in line with the law forward to the next elections. In a statement, the Health Minister Kathleen Sebelius said: “I believe that this solution is a good balance between showing respect for religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive health care services.” It is not just Catholics protesting. 60 Protestant and Orthodox Jewish representatives have written a letter to Obama, asking him not to force all private insurance companies to provide cover for contraception and sterilisation. “It is certainly not just Catholics who are so deeply opposed to having to pay health insurance policies that cover abortion contraception expenses,” they wrote. “We believe that the federal government is obliged by the First Amendment to meet the beliefs of all types of religious organisations half way, whether these are Catholic or not.”

Even one of America’s most “liberal” cardinals, the Emeritus Archbishop of Los Angeles, Roger Mahony, has taken a hard line against Obama: “I cannot imagine a more a direct, head-on attack against the freedom of conscience. Personally I do not believe there is any fundamental principle that is more important than this, just as the Presidential and Congress election campaigns begin.” The Washington Post also condemned the Obama administration’s decision, saying that the President “pretended to give in to making a compromise, by giving employers one more year to work out how to get in line with the new law. It is an unproductive game that does nothing to solve the bottom line problem which is asking religiously affiliated institutions to spend their money on something that goes against the principles of their faith.” Furthermore, “requiring an employer with religious affiliations to spend their own money on something that violates their religious principles does not constitute a satisfactory agreement.”